News: Personal finance class to replace ECA-B
Chronicle Sports: Athletic department considering pay to play
The William Mason High School
Volume 6
Aussie football tournament here Although Australian football tournaments have been held in cities such as Colorado Springs and Las Vegas, the competition will return to its hometown of Cincinnati this year -- specifically Mason. The United States Australian Football League, which began in Cincinnati in 1997 with a team called the Cincinnati Dockers, will bring its 2009 National Tournament to Heritage Oak Park on October 10 and 11. The sport, referred to as “footy,” is often compared to rugby or soccer, and no protective gear is used. The games consist of two 20-minute halves and are played on a field that is 160 feet long and 140 feet wide. The tournament will host 32 men’s teams and six women’s teams as well as coaches, umpires and fans. Fans will be admitted free into the event, which will include an animal park complete with kangaroos. Other activities will also be planned for guests and their children.
TODAY
Prom ticket sale begins Today is the first day that you can buy your prom tickets. Receive the Early Bird Prices if you buy between today and May 1. Early Bird prices are $100 per couple and $50 for individuals. If you buy from May 4th through May 8, tickets will be $120 per couple and $60 for individuals. New to prom this year, your student ID must be brought to Prom for check-in.
Parking spot raffle starts
Starting today, if you open an account or make a transaction at Comets Savings & Loan, you can enter a raffle for a chance to win a front row parking spot. Tickets will be collected today through May 12.
The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Road Mason, Ohio 45040
Issue 7
Who is Rachel Hutzel?
Warren County’s no-nonsense prosecutor takes her job seriously
photos by Rachel Schowalter
NEWS BRIEF
April 20, 2009
“My job is not to decide whether the law is correct. I took an oath to enforce the law of the state of Ohio as written by our elected legislators, and I take that oath very seriously.” Alyssa Howard | Editor in Chief Facing heated criticism concerning the severity (or lack thereof), of charges brought by the county against juveniles, Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel said that hers is a position that has always been accompanied by the public’s judgment. With 16 years of experience in the Warren County prosecution office, Hutzel said that she has learned to take a pragmatic approach to the abundant critiques arising from community opinion. “You can’t do this job and not have criticism,” Hutzel said. “I take it with a grain of salt.” Referencing the prosecutor of former President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, Hutzel said that the nature of prosecution means angering some citizens. “Ken Starr says that when you’re charged with enforcing the law, you’re going to make some people mad,” Hutzel said. Despite the criticism that some of her decisions invoke, Hutzel said that she is committed to measure cases against statutes as they currently are in legislation. According to Hutzel, although she is limited in her duties as prosecutor, she continues to have discussions with state lawmakers to ensure that laws are fairly crafted and worded for clear purpose. “My job is not to decide whether the law is correct,” Hutzel said. “I took an oath to enforce the law of the state of Ohio as written by our elected legislators, and I take that oath very
seriously….So, I can tell the legislators, ‘I think that you need to look at this; I think that this needs to be fixed.’ But, my oath of office is that I enforce it.” The main discrepancy Hutzel said she currently sees between laws and crimes pertain to offenses involving technology. She said that with the speed of new developments, it can be difficult for legislation to keep pace. “I think that we are a little bit behind the eight-ball on a number of different crimes that can be committed over the internet,” Hutzel said. “I would include in that stalking, cyberbullying, menacing, those types of crimes.” Hutzel said that she feels the recent sexting issue, in particular, is an example of how legislation can inadvertently trail the capabilities of consumer products. Sexting, according to Hutzel, corresponds with child pornography statutes, which rule convicted participants felons and require them to register as sex offenders for up to 15 years. “We did a survey of prosecutors’ offices in the tri-state area,” Hutzel said. “Most of them have been charging it as a felony. The specific statute that I’m talking about is basically child porn; it has a slightly different name in Ohio…. And what that statute says is: producing [or] disseminating a depiction of a minor in a state of nudity is a felony.” See HUTZEL on page 2
Hutzel no stranger to Mason › Bus incident
On February 18, three Mason High School students were convicted of attempted vandalism and criminal trespassing, after being charged for unplugging district school buses on January 15. The three have been sentenced with 300 hours of community service, $2,500 in compensation and a 60-day house arrest this summer.
› Sexting incident
On March 4, two MHS students were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor of the first degree, for participation in sexting.
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MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE
HUTZEL: Prosecutor responds to judgment of public continued from page 1 Although the recent case involving Mason High School students fulfilled the elements necessary to constitute child pornography, Hutzel said that she charged the two with misdemeanors instead because of the inconsistency between the crime and the original intent of the law. As a result, she said that she brought the issue to the attention of legislators. State Representative Ronald Maag will introduce legislature to deal with sexting, according to Hutzel. “I don’t think that [sexting is] what the statute was intended to deal with,” Hutzel said. “The statute doesn’t say, ‘Except if it was sent by a high school student.’ I think that the statute was really intended to deal with child pornographers, child predators.” Despite making the move to adapt legislation to fit the burgeoning issue, Hutzel said that the problems with sexting are rooted in the permanence of pictures that are transmitted via text message or the internet. “The photos that go out have the potential to be out on the internet for years to come and to be widely disseminated to millions of people,” Hutzel said. “Parents call me, wanting to remove ugly photographs of their children from the internet that have gone out. Once they go out,
it’s too late to remove them, and I hate to tell a parent that.” In addition, Hutzel said that a common error of juveniles involved in criminal cases, such as sexting, is a lack of considering the significance of their actions. According to Hutzel, the best advice she could give teenagers would be to pause before acting on impulses that could have negative effects in the coming years. “While [teens] may not appreciate the far-reaching, long-term consequences of some of their actions, there are long-term and far-reaching consequences to even things that people may think of as a teenage prank,” Hutzel said. “So, think about the consequences of what you do.” In an office that dealt with 2,864 juvenile cases in 2008 alone, Hutzel said that the legal system is designed to recover delinquent minors from forging lifestyles of poor choices. “In juvenile cases, we are dealing with the effects that [a crime] has both on the victim and the perpetrator,” Hutzel said. “Most juveniles can be rehabilitated, and our system works to try to rehabilitate them. And we also have to be aware of the fact that the judgment of kids is
very different from the judgment of adults when it comes to understanding the consequences of their conduct and then controlling their conduct.” The difference between the way laws affect minors and adults comes only in the application of the law, Hutzel said. “Our laws typically don’t make the distinction between the conduct of a juvenile and the conduct of an adult,” Hutzel said. “It’s what happens after the law is applied to [teenage criminals]. What the court does, what the probation officers do, what I do: that’s where the fact that they’re a juvenile comes into play.” As a result of this process, Hutzel said that she has gotten an abundance of community feedback criticizing the sternness of certain punishments. More often, however, she said she receives responses in approval of the way she applies legislation to various cases. “I weigh those [comments from the public],” Hutzel said. “It’s not that I disregard it, but I’ve got a job that I have to do. Some people are going to love you for it; some people are going to hate you for it. I can handle that.”
Students see President Obama as celebrity Ellen Duffer | Associate Editor
America’s fixation with celebrities has expanded to the realm of politics, claiming President Obama as a star. Having appeared on multiple talk shows and merchandise displayed since last February, he has continued to gain attention -- the key element to his election win, according to senior Matt Montes. “[Obama’s celebrity status] obviously got him to be President,” Montes said. “I think it’s affecting him in a good way, because people see him to be affecting our country in a better way.” His face has recently been placed on numerous t-shirts, tote bags, buttons, lipstick, bobble heads, shot glasses and Chia Pets, the sales of which continue to grow, according to CNN.com. According to Montes, such proliferating merchandise resulted in President Obama’s celebrity status, leading him to achieve the position of president. “His advertising campaign was extremely successful [with] all the shirts and logos, but at the same time, I think his popularity is what got him there,” Montes said. Although Obama’s fame is having a positive impact on the President, Montes said, Americans are beginning to focus excessively on his high status in pop culture. “He’s the biggest celebrity around right
now,” Montes said. “[But,] I think it’s starting to get ridiculous, because people are just viewing him as a celebrity.” President Obama’s visit to the stage of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno boosted the show’s ratings to levels not reached since January of 2005, according to HuffingtonPost.com. Such an intense fascination with his celebrity status, reinforced by his appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show, has resulted in the lack of examination of policy particulars, according to Montes. “I think people have lost the hindsight of the outcomes his policies are going to have,” Montes said. “They’re just looking to him as some great figure, while meanwhile, they don’t see what can occur. I don’ think people can see past his popularity.” Ebony magazine listed President Obama as one of the “Top 25 Coolest Brothers of All Time,” and several articles feature the headline, “Get arms like Michelle Obama,” proving the celebrity status has spread to the president’s family, as well. Junior Rachel Trenaman said she agrees that President Obama has succeeded in reaching stardom, citing his habit of straying from the stereotypical politician personalities while in the public eye. “He was on The Ellen Degeneres Show,”
photo by Bradley Piper/Chicago Tribune/MCT
An Obama-shaped Chia Pet is presented alongside those of SpongeBob SquarePants and the Statue of Liberty at The International Home & Housewares Show in Chicago on March 23, 2009.
Trenaman said. “He was cracking jokes on TV. That doesn’t seem very common for political characters.” The advent of 2009’s March Madness brought a publicly released presidential bracket, shown by Obama on ESPN. On April 1, the President and First Lady presented Queen Elizabeth II with a personalized iPod, stocked with Broadway show tunes and footage of her 2007 trip to Virginia. The Apple product is not the first gadget associated with President Obama to make the news: upon his election, he was required to relinquish his Blackberry. He argued, however, that it would help him “break out of the bubble” enveloping
his position. President Obama also cemented his association with other celebrities, emphasizing pop culture icons’ attendance at the inaugural ball and selecting actor Kal Penn, previously part of FOX network’s House, for the position of Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Liason and Intergovernmental Affairs. Trenaman said that President Obama’s rise to fame has allowed him to connect to the country he represents. “Some people think it’s kind of fun and exciting that our president is on our favorite talk shows,” Trenaman said. “It lets him relate to the country more.”
Curriculum to include mandatory personal finance class Jordan Berger | Staff Writer
Financial literacy courses are being mandated state-wide through Senate Bill 311, as Ohio expresses the necessity for a required financial literacy course before graduation. The required course, beginning with the graduating class of 2014, will replace ECA-B at Mason High School. According to business teacher Cindy Donnelly, fractions of ECA-B will be kept in the new course while integrating Personal Finance into the class. “The new Financial Literacy course will incorporate many of the technology elements in ECA-B with an emphasis in Excel,” Donnelly said. “We’re evaluating the curriculum for ECA-A to see if there are any objectives that we want to move from ECA B down to ECA A once the B class is eliminated.” According to Donnelly, the transition from ECA-B to a finance-based course stems from a need to prepare Ohio high school graduates to meet the demands of the 21st Century. “[The class will] enhance career and
academic development, financial management, careers and transitioning from school to life,” Donnelly said. “[It helps] to plan for the future.” The requirement for Financial Literacy will allow the student body to increase its financial knowledge as a whole, as only seven percent of students currently take Personal Finance without the requirement, according to the Comet Savings & Loan Vice President, Molly Culbertson. While ECA-A provides the opportunity to acquire certain skills regarding speaking, new graduation requirements may improve curriculum and bear vast effectiveness, according to Culbertson. “ECA helped me get more comfortable with public speaking because I’m quiet,” Culbertson said. “But, having two public speaking classes is too much.” These changes will set a precedent at Mason High school for goals and education aimed at college, everyday life after schooling and finding success in effective lifestyles as Personal Finance offers opportunities to learn about taxes and life skills, according to Culbertson.
“Not everybody needs to learn about creating an advertisement,” Culbertson said. “But, everyone will come into contact with finance in their lives; the course will be helpful to everybody.” After taking Personal Finance, the course after which Financial Literacy will be modeled, senior Hannah Swoyer agrees Financial Literacy bears greater opportunity for students. “Personal Finance definitely has more meaning to real life application,” Swoyer said. “In ECA-B, you learn good skills for the computer and speaking is important, but the skills you learn in Personal Finance are for your whole life.” Objectives taught regarding finance at Mason will offer benefits for the future on many levels, according to Swoyer. “It’s all about money management and teenagers being able to keep track of funds,” Swoyer said. “People will be more aware of spending wisely.” The new course expands MHS’ college preparation efforts as a further motive for the establishment of financial literacy links to increasing coordination between high
school and higher education to reduce remediation at college level, according to Senate Bill 311 and Amy Spicher, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in Mason. “College credit will be offered if the student meets requirements set up by UC and any other partner universities and Mason’s requirements,” Spicher said. “We are still working with our partners to design this college credit option.” According to the Ohio Department of Education, Financial Literacy offers opportunities to respond competently to life events that affect every day financial decisions such as those in the economy. Mason’s integration of the new course into the required curriculum may offer alternative perspective of students and provide the advancement needed for the future, according to Culbertson. “In financial literacy, you file taxes and learn a ton of financial stuff that every person goes through,” Culbertson said. “I don’t understand how else you’re supposed to learn it if there isn’t a required class.”
THE CHRONICLE | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
NEWS | PAGE 3
Foreign language program to start earlier in education Rachel Schowalter | Staff Writer The Foreign Language Department is working to improve foreign language education in the Mason City School District by offering classes in elementary and junior high school and introducing a language lab at MHS. According to AP Spanish teacher Rod Stewart, the addition of the Sanako Language Lab will provide students with an opportunity to improve their listening and speaking skills through interactive audio recordings. The lab will be installed and ready by the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. Stewart said the funds for the lab were acquired by the Mason Schools Foundation after he submitted a grant application for the lab. “Every year, the Mason Schools Foundation’s goal is to give money to programs within the district that normally wouldn’t be covered by the district,” Stewart said. “Anybody can submit a grant to the committee, explaining the purpose for the funds and how they would enhance the students’ education.” According to the district website, the Mason Schools Foundation is committed to paying $35,000 to fund the lab over the next five years. Stewart said the language lab will function similarly to MHS computer labs, where teachers will sign up to reserve it for individual class periods. Although only the teacher will be using a computer, each student will have a headset for listening and speaking activities. “One of the big differences with the language lab versus what we do now is the whole time that everybody is speaking, the teacher can listen to any single person at any time, listen to the whole class at any time, talk to each individual through the headsets where nobody else can hear them, or talk to everybody,” Stewart said. The lab will also allow for students to work on different group activities. According to Stewart, the teacher can upload audio to which the students will listen and respond. The questions may be answered verbally or through a box with true/false
and multiple choice buttons. Stewart said a wall screen will also be included in the computer lab to incorporate pictures and videos into the activities, where students can describe or answer questions about what they see. According to Stewart, everything said by the students in the lab is recorded and saved so teachers can choose which audio to keep and grade. This feature will help teachers chart individual student progress. “Any of these things can be put onto a CD [or uploaded onto Edline] for the students to listen to,” Stewart said. “The nice thing is that the teacher will be able to tell the student, ‘Look, here’s the first time you spoke; here’s what you’re doing now.’ Hopefully there will be a huge improvement there. The same thing goes with quizzes, tests and any type of assessment: all that is kept in the server as well.” Stewart said he hopes students will see the language lab as a more enjoyable way to practice speaking versus reading out of the textbook or listening to grammar lessons. “Up until now, students haven’t felt comfortable speaking,” Stewart said. “That was one of the big reasons why we felt we needed a language lab: [we needed] something that would get the kids speaking. They’re going to enjoy it and they’re going to find it fun, so hopefully they will be more motivated to do the speaking assessments.” Starting next school year, eighth graders will be given the opportunity to take Spanish IA for high school credit. According to Foreign Language Department Chairperson and Spanish IV teacher Jane Margraf, approximately 525 eighth graders have already signed up to take the class, which will be spread out over two trimesters. “What we’re doing is we’re working very closely with the teachers from the junior high to make sure that the assessments are all common assessments and the curriculum is the same curriculum, so that when the students come over here, they will have had everything that they need to be successful in IB,” Margraf said. Spanish classes are now available for
On the walls & In the halls Information that can be found on the walls of MHS. PROM: H.O.P.E. Club’s annual Senior Citizen’s Prom is this Friday, April 24, from six p.m. to eight p.m. in the Mason High School Commons. Attendees are able to count the event as community service hours. More information can be obtained from room B310. ACTING: Acting III will be performing The Dining Room, a play composed of a series of vignettes highlighting the lives of a group of diners. The performance will be on Thursday, April 23 in the Mason Middle School Auditorium at seven p.m. Tickets cost $3. BOOK SALE: The Mason Public Library is having a spring book sale on Wednesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 26. Wednesday’s sale is for members only.
photo by Rachel Schowalter
First grade Spanish teacher Stephanie Brauer at the Mason Early Childhood Center teaches her students the Spanish numbers with the help of a song.
Mason first graders and will be continued throughout elementary school. According to Margraf, Spanish classes in the first grade began this school year after multiple requests from community members. “We’ve had so many requests for foreign language, specifically at the middle school, but a lot of requests for foreign language in the elementary grades,” Margraf said. “A lot of the people who move into the district from other places have that program in place where they came from, and they wanted to have that in place here as well.” Margraf said Spanish was introduced at the elementary level in order for Mason students to adapt to their global environment. “We started that program this year as a means to make language learning more applicable to students and to make our school more open to some of the international standards in which students are all speaking more than one language,” Margraf said. First grade Spanish teacher Stephanie Brauer said Spanish is a “special area class” for students, similar to their P.E., music, art and science lab classes. She sees her students once a week for 40 minutes, teaching them songs and motions that they can associate with Spanish words. “I use a storytelling approach to teaching Spanish,” Brauer said. “It is called TPRS, or Total Physical Response Storytelling. It involves using motion and pictures to
teach language. Most of the words we learn have a motion associated with them: a wave for ‘hola,’ etc. I also use song to teach and reinforce our vocabulary.” Brauer said her students have reacted enthusiastically to the learning a new language. “The first graders are having a great response to Spanish,” Brauer said. “I make a fun and energetic class for them. I teach that they have to be good listeners to hear the sounds and learn the words. I try my hardest to not make it scary for them and I am constantly pantomiming my words.” By offering foreign language classes in earlier grades, Brauer said it will give students a “solid foundation” in language learning and “confidence in themselves and their ability to understand another language.” Margraf said this will help prepare them for high school-level language classes and beyond. “The basis for instituting the Spanish program was not to make native speakers out of first graders,” Margraf said. “It was intended to broaden them and make language learning accessible, so they learn how to learn a language. When we get them in high school now, they don’t know how to learn. What we’re trying to do now is incorporate the language into their everyday lives, from this grade on, so that learning a foreign language is no longer foreign -- it’s just like everything else.”
Windowless classrooms affect school morale Samantha Stulen | Staff Writer While windows might be a portal of escape for students due to construction, some students are stuck in rooms boxed by four white walls with new windows. Junior Laura Davis, a member of Honors Concert Choir, said she was shocked upon walking into the classroom and not seeing the two usual windows. “It was kind of weird the first time we walked in the choir room and they had blocked up the windows,” Davis said. “We were like, ‘Wow, we’re being imprisoned.’” According to Davis, the transition from windows to no windows, however, did not make her feel “closed in.” “It’s really not that bad because, especially in that room, it’s so big and there’s a mirror,” Davis said. “We don’t really feel like we’re being ‘closed in,’ with the building expanding. Some of the rooms that were on the edge will [just] be in the middle now.” Elaine Santos, a choir teacher at Mason High School, also senses the effects of the absence of natural sunlight can have on teaching. “Having had the windows and a view of the outside world and natural light in the classroom was phenomenal,” Santos said. “I’ve noticed a very big difference now that the windows are blocked up because we don’t have natural light and we don’t have a window in the world. We feel like now we’ve been cut off.” The new construction may be for the common good, but for the students in windowless classrooms, this is not proving to be beneficial, according to Davis. “It’s like they’re expanding the school to make it better for us, to improve our [school] environment and really it might be hurting us more than they know,” Davis said. Santos said, however, that the lack of windows does not affect the atmosphere of the room. “Initially it was really difficult to accept the fact that we don’t have windows anymore,” Santos said. “Just like any-
thing, it takes time to get adjusted to that. Once we really get into our classroom instruction, we are so hardworking at that point that we forget we don’t have the windows.” Santos said that because of the contests and concerts the choirs have to prepare for, having no windows does not produce any effect on the performances because of how focused the students are on preparation. Junior John Marquart also said he is not bothered by the depletion of windows in his classroom for Personal Finance. The results of not having windows, though, can prove to be an advantage to students who have trouble focusing because windows that provide distraction are gone, according to Marquart. “I know a lot of kids like to look out the windows when they’re in class, [since] they’re bored and they just daydream,” Marquart said. “Sometimes, I would think [the absence of them] would keep you more focused. If they ever had a group of distracted kids in a room, the room should probably be a [room] without windows.” Students and teachers who have a classroom without natural sunlight can be unappealing. But, according to Santos, students and teachers will always have the option to step outside his or her class and be in other classrooms. “The beauty of it is that when you go out into the pod itself, you can see outside the big windows,” Santos said. “So, if you need a little break from the closed in space, you can step outside your classroom and look outside in the bigger windows that are in the stairwells.” While adjustments have to be made without the windows, faculty and pupils can look forward to the white walls like the other walls in a classroom, according to assistant principal Tim Keeton. “People after [this class] will never know there was a window there,” Keeton said. “[The vacant window areas will be] painted just like the rest of the wall.”
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Chronicle Policy
Feedback
The Chronicle is the official student newspaper of William Mason High School. The Chronicle is produced by students enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. Editorials reflect the staff’s opinion but do not neccesarily reflect the opinions of the school administration or the Mason City School District. The Chronicle is published monthly. Call 398-5025 ext. 33110 for information regarding advertising in The Chronicle. The Chronicle reserves the right to refuse advertising we deem inappropriate for a high school publication. As an open forum for students, letters to the editor are welcome, but are subject to be edited for length, libel, obscentiy, clarity and poor taste. Letters to the editor may be dropped off in room C110 and must be signed. The Chronicle is a member of The Columbia Scholastic Press Association, The National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists and the Journalism Association for Ohio Schools.
How does the size of Mason affect friendships?
Contact Information The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 398-5025 The Chronicle Staff Editor In Chief Alyssa Howard Associate Editor Ellen Duffer Senior Staff Writer Mandy Chiara Business/Circulation Manager Kirsten McCafferty Technical and Graphic Manager Caleb Schowalter Staff Writers Deanna Allbrittin Jordan Berger Tony DeLotell Duncan Fischley Woody Goldsmith Scott Hutchinson Jessica Kantor Trevor Maxim Cady Meece Rachel Schowalter Danielle Simms Samantha Stulen Adviser Mr. Dale Conner
“You’re closer with fewer people.” Andy Crone Junior
“It’s harder for Asians to connect because the population is overwhelming.” Anchin Liaw Senior
“You have less of a chance of being in the same class with your friends, but also you can make new friends.” Alyssa Carman Freshman
“Everyone gets into their little cliques and it’s so big that you can’t be friends with everybody.” Lindsay Heim Junior
In my Opinion
“It’s not bad because you can make a lot of new friends.” Monica Lake Freshman
“It’s hard because you’re separated from your friends during school in classes.” Lizzy Leetch Sophomore
“It’s hard to be around your friends a lot because you’re separated in classes. I don’t even see the majority of my friends at school.” Lauren Bridges Senior
“It makes it harder to keep the same friends for a long time.” Megan Findley Junior
Staff Editorial
Prom increasingly over-materialized A parade of young women and men saunter into the darkened room on a warm evening, smiling and laughing coolly as they enter. Sparkling, the congregators look sophisticated, but their youth gives them away. Frivolous accessories throw the scene out of balance. The attempts to personify wealth for a single, perpetual night are excessive. Unable to handle prom delicately, treating it as the event embodying high school romance and lustful teenage passion, attendees focus on petty pride in materials, as if an intense month of preparation and shopping will enhance the evening. Hair and nail appointments have results on par with those seen at weddings, and dresses seem to cost as much as bridal gowns. The tanning season begins weeks beforehand to achieve ultimate crispness and the perfect bronze shade. It’s not an absolute crisis if your hair stylist is booked on May 16. Panicking when dresses become scarce is unnecessary. The staggering cost of prom is frighteningly breathtaking. Despite the entertainment derived from dressing up, essentially the same environment could be created if students tossed on t-shirts and jeans and crowded into the Middle School Commons, like an older version of the highly anticipated middle school dances. But, that’s not what high schoolers want out of prom. It’s not about the experience,
EDITORIAL | PAGE 5
it’s about the road to it: the hoops jumped through to obtain the dreamlike details. If prom could be held in a palace, it would be even more attractive. Students would clamor for tickets. The glamorous excitement of prom night heightens as frilly costumes are donned and compared. As the evening approaches, steps are taken carefully, but shakily; every speck must be correctly aligned. The worry and stress created by those anxious for prom night is laughable, but everyone falls prey to the trances induced by fantasizing. The appearances of prom are taken all too seriously. Relaxing, relinquishing all qualms regarding the evening of complex relations and interactions, will probably render prom more fun. Hearts palpitating to an upbeat, nervous rhythm, the dancers flutter across the ballroom floor. Identical dresses are spotted on multiple girls, hair laboriously pinned into painful twists and buns spills into less-than perfect waves and everything is okay. The energy of the night pulses for a few hours longer, transforming into comforting warmth. Kick off the expensive shoes you don’t really want in favor of a pretty pair. An elegant, not painful, pair. Suffering for fashion is only smart up to a point within monetary reasonability. A royal prom experience is overrated.
Escapism has function
Alyssa Howard | Editor in Chief We’ve all been there: it’s Monday morning and you’re yawning through first bell, head barely above the desk. You have gotten approximately two and a half hours of sleep the last night. But looking at the measly three worksheets and reflection paper that you had due for today, you wonder where the time went. But in reality, you know. You spent time you didn’t have to waste on Facebook, watching reruns, talking on the phone. Next time you log on to Facebook, tally the number of statutes proclaiming, “SO MUCH HOMEWORK TONIGHT.” So, why would that person be on Facebook with their unreasonable mass of work to do? Why do we squander the time that we don’t have on a regular basis? It’s because we crave distraction; hours spent indulging in mindless escapism is almost as valuable to us as the elements that ground us to everyday life. And be sure that every one of us utilizes his or her selected avenues of diversion. Some tend towards the conventional, mostly seen as time-sucking pastimes: surfing the internet, plugging into an iPod or playing video games. Others opt for more productive distractions: spending countless hours on homework, honing artistic skills or organizing their possessions meticulously. I wish it could be that whichever route each individual takes is irrelevant. But, it’s not. It has been said that life itself constitutes a distraction. From what? Often, it’s simply easier to avoid conflict, emotional engagement with the people around you or anything else from which you might be running. Through blind devotions to unproductive, maybe even destructive, pastimes, we risk centralizing our lives on diversions. On the other end of the spectrum, ultraengagement with the world around us is also a negative. As humans we can’t be so involved with the world around us that we fail to develop our own senses of individuality. Distractions from community life can sometimes provide the beginnings to what we will ultimately value most in our lives. The balance lies in knowing which path to pursue when taking brief respites from hectic, super-connected lives. We have to know that occasionally it’s okay to pick the unproductive and mindless, but to really develop who we are away from everyone else, we have to opt for what matters to us. Forward motion in life can be an escape just as creation of art or literature is. The key is in understanding that distractions are necessary, but not necessarily, or not preferably, destructive. Escapism is central to the human experience. We keep trying to find excuses, but sometimes, we just shouldn’t need them.
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THE CHRONICLE | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
NEWS FEATURE | PAGE 7
The Diamondback prepares to uncoil Students anticipate Kings Island’s new coaster High school students excited to take thrill ride Danni Simms | Staff Writer The opening of Kings Island’s Diamondback on April 18 will allows students and staff at Mason High School to participate in what math teacher Johnothon Sauer calls “controlled chaos,” According to KiDiamondback.com, the $22 million roller coaster was built by Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers. B & M built four of the 10 roller coasters featured on AmusementToday.com as the top steel roller coasters in 2007. The Diamondback has a first drop of 215 feet at a 74 degree angle. The top speed is 80 miles per hour, and throughout the three-minute long ride there are a total of 10 drops. The first riders of the coaster when the park is open to the public will be the highest bidders for the seats, with the money bid going to the A Kid Again foundation. According to KiCentral.com, A Kid Again helps provide children with life threatening illnesses and their families with fun activities and support until the child is 20. The bidding for the seats on the first public run of Diamondback started on February 2 and ended on April 15. The highest bid was $5,000, made by Blackhawk Network in California. Sauer said that calling him excited for riding the Diamondback is an understatement. “Kings Island has needed a big steel coaster for a long time,” Sauer said. “Vortex doesn’t cut it and everybody knows it. This is Kings Island getting serious about steel coasters -- as serious as they’ve been about wooden roller coasters all along.” One of the main wooden coasters to which Sauer is referring is The Beast -- the longest wooden roller coaster in the world that has been running since 1979. Since 2006, Kings Island has been owned by Cedar Fair, the same company that owns Cedar Point which is located in Sandusky, Ohio. Sauer said he attributes the building of more intense roller coasters to the new ownership. “It has everything to do with Cedar Fair,” Sauer said. “They are all about roller coasters. I don’t think we’ll end up with [the top] coaster. I think they’ll save those for Sandusky. “ Sophomore Brittani Campbell said she is also looking forward to the opening of Diamondback, even though she found the last ride to have a big opening, The Firehawk, to be a let-down. “I was a little disappointed,” Campbell said. “It wasn’t what I expected. There [weren’t] as [many] loops and excitement.” Sauer was not as thrilled about Firehawk as he is about Diamondback because he rode Firehawk in a different location. “I rode the Firehawk when it was X-Flight at Six Flags Ohio,” Sauer said. “I was excited that it was going to be close by, but it wasn’t a first ride type excitement.” Senior Matt Higgins said he is looking forward to the unique seating on the Diamondback. According to Higgins, two seats straddle the track and the row behind these seats is placed on the outer edges so that the riders will have an unobstructed view of the ride and the surrounding area. According to KiDiamondback.com this will be the first park
photo by Danni Simms
King’s Islands Diamondback roller coaster includes multiple extreme drops and has a three minute run-time.
in the United States will this style of seating. “I’m looking forward to riding on the wings,” Higgins said. Senior Whitney McCoy said that she experienced riding on the “wings” on April 4 when Kings Island allowed its employees to ride the Diamondback. According to McCoy, Kings Island’s employees were also allowed to ride the Firehawk before the public was able to. “All employees had to go in for training Saturday at Kings Island and it was open for anyone to ride it after training,” McCoy said. “It was kind of cool how they did [the seats]. You are hanging off the track, [and] you can actually see where you are going instead of just seats.” Though McCoy said that she had not heard a lot about the Diamondback, she was very impressed with the experience. “It was actually bigger than I thought it would be,” McCoy said. “It had several [hills] and it was longer than normal. Then, at the end, it had water, [which] is an extra bonus.” Even though McCoy understands that not everyone likes roller coasters, she believes that everyone should ride the Diamondback. “Even if you don’t like roller coasters I think you should try it,” McCoy said. “It is not really what you would expect.” Higgins and McCoy have been to several theme parks and they feel like Kings Island is among the best. “[I’ve] gone to about 10 [theme parks],” Higgins said. “I think Kings Island is a pretty good theme park, [but] Six Flags Great America in Illinois is a little better.” McCoy said that Kings Island is a work in process. “[It is] pretty good in general,” McCoy said. “They are catching up [to other parks.]” Though Campbell, Sauer, McCoy and Higgins are all fans of the Diamondback, all of them said their favorite rides were at Cedar Point. Sauer and Campbell both cite Top Thrill Speed Dragster as their favorite rides. Top Thrill was built in 2003; it shoots the rider 420 feet up into the air and achieves a speed of 120 miles per hour. McCoy said that in addition to Top Thrill being her
favorite ride, she also likes Millennium Force. Millennium Force broke ten world records when it opened in 2000. The roller coaster has a drop of 300 feet at an angle of 80 degrees. Higgins said that his favorite is Cedar Point’s newest ride: Maverick. Maverick has as a drop of 100 feet at a 95 degree angle. The ride has a top speed of 70 miles per hour and is approximately two minutes and 30 seconds long. Sauer said, however, that there is no comparison to Top Thrill. “There is nothing close to it,” Sauer said. “Everything else, in terms of intensity, pales in comparison.” However, Sauer said that there are downsides to rides with such quick intensity. Top Thrill only lasts 17 seconds. “The drawback of that ride is the fact that it’s a one trick pony--out, up, down and done--as opposed to much longer rides having different elements to them.” In 2005 the opening of Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, knocked Top Thrill out of the tallest and fastest roller coaster records. Kingda Ka goes 128 miles per hour and is 456 feet tall. According to Sauer, Mason High School students may not be as excited about the Diamondback as he is, due to the accessibility of Kings Island that some students have always had. “I think the folks that have grown up around here tend to take it a little more for granted,” Sauer said. As opposed to I grew up in Columbus where it’s not right next door.” Junior Chase Cannava is one Mason High School student who said that his close proximity to Kings Island has made him appreciate other theme parks more. “Seeing as I’ve been around [Kings Island] all my life it’s not as much as a thrill to go to as [other parks].” “But, it’s right here. I’ll [still] go there and ride [the] rides all day long.” Sauer, Campbell, Cannava and Higgins said they all look forward to riding the Diamondback and roller coasters for the same reason: thrill and chaos. “[I like roller coasters for] the controlled chaos of it,” Sauer said.” You know you’re not going to go out of control, you know you are not going to get hurt. But, boy, do they try and convince you otherwise.”
photo by Danni Simms
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PAGE 10 | FEATURE
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE
Senioritis: symptoms may vary Mandy Chiara | Senior Staff Writer “Senioritis:” the word that gets over 141,000 hits on Google. Its definition is commonly understood by Mason High School students and staff, especially during third trimester. Symptoms usually include a lack of academic appetite, lethargy, increased social activity and a feeling of supremacy. Students are cautioned to protect themselves from the disease with good study habits and a challenging academic schedule. According to the College Board, many college applications (including the Common Application) require students to list their senior courses, including information about course levels and credit hours; it will be very obvious to admissions officers if students decide to take the year off. Senior Alex Muetzel said he has unfortunately caught the inevitable Senioritis. He is not, however, the typical slacker. While academics are no longer a priority for Muetzel, he continues to participate in the May Festival Youth Chorus; Young Artists Preparatory Program (YAPP); this year’s school musical, The Secret Garden, MHS’s National Honor Society and is State President of the Children of the Revolution. Muetzel also volunteers weekly to help third grade students in the science lab at Western Row. “I think my life begins at 2:15,” Muetzel said. “I do so many activities outside of school that I’ve realized that there are more important things than high school.” Muetzel’s ultimate goal is to sing opera for [The Metropolitan Opera] and he wants to double major in college in Vocal Performance and History or Architecture. Muetzel thinks distraction this trimester could be partly due to his musical abilities. “My choir director said musicians are usually very optimistic people, because they have to think of what comes next,” Muetzel said. “That’s how I am. I’m always thinking, thinking about college. I think I’ve [lost motivation] because I’ve known for such a long time what I want to do and can’t wait to study music.” So far, Muetzel has been accepted to DePauw University, the University of Michigan, Indiana University and Bard College. He claims that first and second trimester were stressful due to college applications and AP classes. “People are like, ‘You should enjoy your senior year.’ ” Muetzel said. “There was little enjoyment first and second trimester. I applied to eight schools and I had to apply to the music school and the academic school. I got about five hours of sleep at night.” According to Muetzel, this trimester, he gets seven to eight hours of sleep a night, plus naps, and is only taking one strenuous class. “I don’t do the homework that’s due -- that’s where the slacker part comes in,” Muetzel said. “I hate busy work; I’m so done with it. I think work should be qualitative not quantitative. That’s my big beef with high school. I have one AP class and early release so I’m not going to care very much. ” Muetzel believes that the MHS staff and his parents are aware of this, and do not seem to care very much themselves. “My mom told me I need to enjoy myself,” Muetzel said. “It’s nice. I think [the staff] is aware of it. They understand that seniors have different priorities; [teachers] treat you more like people. They push you a little bit. If you want to learn you have to bring the other half to the table.” Washington Post writer, Jay Mathews agrees with the
attitudes of MHS students and staff. In his February 4 column, titled “In Praise of Senioritis,” Mathews suggests that slacking off senior year is a rite of passage, and that “delaying homework awhile to sniff the flowers” should not be thought of as a “sign of a potentially damaging ailment,” despite the fact that many colleges look at a mid-year grade report (a report which has the potential to take back an already delivered acceptance letter), according to the College Board. Muetzel is unafraid, and says he will continue to relax and fully experience the “rite” of senior year. “I am definitely coasting until May 31,” Muetzel said. While Muetzel has fallen victim to Senioritis, senior Audrey Nguyen continues to study this trimester for AP BC Calculus, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Honors Anatomy and Physiology and Physics. “I typically spend five to six hours [a night] on homework, studying included, just to keep up with the class,” Nguyen said. According to Nguyen, her late-found passion is the reason for her difficult schedule. “The reason my schedule is so crazy is because early on in high school I was really bad at planning,” Nguyen said. “I didn’t realize my passion for medicine until sophomore or junior year. I couldn’t take continuous science so I have harder classes this year.” Along with her rigorous class schedule, Nguyen spent most of her time outside of school applying to The Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati, Miami University, University of Dayton, Case Western University, Loyola College in Maryland, Washington University, Tulane University, University of Kentucky and Northwestern University -which left little time for other activities. Nguyen plans to attend The Ohio State University and major in Biomedical Engineering. But even though Nguyen’s future four years are already determined, she says the hope of getting college class credit keeps her going. “Mostly the dreaded AP weeks keep me motivated,” Nguyen said. “I know my major is going to be difficult, so I want to get college credits out of the way. If I’m devoting 12 years of my life to become a doctor, I want to start to push myself towards that now.” According to Nguyen, challenging herself has resulted in stress and a lack of sleep. Nguyen said that focusing on
academics has taken a toll on her physical health; however, the strain on her body will be worth it in the future. “I know that whatever pain I have now is only going to help me in the future,” Nguyen said. “My family follows this pattern; they know that if you sacrifice now the rewards will be so much greater later. I want to keep challenging myself, keep my self-discipline. I don’t want to fall behind in my studies, because I don’t want to become a lazy doctor and have repercussions that affect other people.” According to the College Board, more than one quarter of the freshmen at four-year colleges and nearly half of those at two-year colleges do not even make it to their sophomore year in school. The culprit behind these unmotivated students is said to be the dreadful Senioritis. “Senioritis is a huge problem,” Nguyen said. “But if you are motivated enough and you have self-discipline you can have your cake and eat it too.”
photo by Mandy Chiara
THE CHRONICLE | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
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MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
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Woody Goldsmith | Staff Writer
The end is near. The senior class of Mason High School has almost reached the pivotal, arguably most important moment of high school life: graduation. But what of the other pivotal moments? Over the past four years, the senior class of 2009 has experienced events ranging from wildly outrageous to sadly sobering: all life-changing. From the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2009, the school has been rife with events that have created memories, cost the school money and transformed lives. It’s been a long road, but at last the end is near. Here are the moments that defined a class, and changed the face of the school:
MHS Spanish teacher killed in car accident – The class of 2009 experienced tragedy at its start in the high school when Spanish teacher Nikki Armstrong was suddenly killed in a car accident on September 11, 2005. It was a sad beginning to what would be a memorable tenure at MHS.
2005
“Who’s House” shirts don’t make any sense – The question on everyone’s mind in the fall of 2007 was “Who’s in the House?” The answer: “Our House!” These grammatically incorrect, unintelligible T-shirts briefly made Mason a laughingstock . . . But it’s good now.
Misprinted planners support wrong mascot – “Let’s go, Tigers; let’s go!” In 2007, a printing error on the Mason planners transformed the Mason Comets to the Mason Tigers for the year. The center picture of the vicious tiger defined every week of the agenda.
“In the age of spell-check, they still managed to get [the shirts] wrong. Needless to say, I did not buy one.” –Mackenzie Touby, senior
The school district is sent home from school for snow – Who wasn’t mad when the class of 2009 was sent to school for less than a period during freshman year?
Two Mason students pass away – The tragic deaths of Dustin Russell on April 18, 2007 and Anthony Pantona on October 6, 2007 brought the school together in a general feeling of mourning and reverence.
“[It was] a dream come true; I didn’t have to spend all day in the boring classes at school.” –Brad Helwagen, senior
“Jarod’s Law is unnecessary, bureaucratic garbage.” –Kevin Zhang, senior
“Right now I think it’s annoying, but I think it’ll be worth it because we’ll have more room.” –Monica Lake, freshman
The Black Hole is formed – The face of MHS basketball and later football, changed forever when this group of spirited students came together to create the most feared student section in the state of Ohio. “Truthfully, [the Black Hole] makes me more proud to be a Comet.” –Nick Tuell, senior
2006
Fire in the A2 pod bathroom – On December 15, 2005, the student body was dismissed from school because of a small fire in the bathroom of the A2 pod. After what seemed like an eternity outside waiting for the fire department, everyone was sent home. Though it wasn’t a long time, the students appreciated the time off.
2007
2008
MHS students get the day off for cold weather – Because of unbearably cold weather in the winter of 2006, the administration cancelled school around the district. The school’s rationale was unimportant; all that mattered was the day off. “[Public Information Officer] Tracey Carson’s voice is a wonderful wake-up call on a snow day, but it’s even better when there’s no snow on the ground and you can do anything you want.” –Scott Abernathy, senior
Students raise money for MHS history teacher – In an enormous, collaborative, money-raising effort from the students and staff of MHS, history teacher Vance Reid’s need for a handicap-accessible van for his daughter Jordan was filled. Once again, MHS proved itself a caring, helpful high school. “That was cool how everyone got together to make a difference; even though we’re students, we can still make money.” –Shelley Granitz, junior
“All I can do is laugh about it because it was so ridiculous.” –Allie Kolish, senior The bells keep changing – From the sound of a train coming to the echo of a flat line, it seemed like there would be a new bell sound every day. Unfortunately, the surprises ended and the bell returned to its normal sound. “When we had the flat line bell, I thought the school died.” –Matt Tyler, senior photos by Woody Goldsmith and Ellen Duffer
“When they reprinted [the planners], it was a huge waste of money. We could’ve just used the tiger planners. I didn’t even get a new one.” –Andy Crone, junior
Jarod’s Law is put into effect – The passage of this law ended any future hopes of bringing food to a science class, while teachers frantically filled out MSDS sheets for pretty much everything in their classes.
Construction begins on an extension to the school – The beginning of bad parking, long walks and agitated asthma. With the end almost in sight for what has seemed like the longest construction project in history, the class of 2009 has left an indelible mark with the events and the history that changed the school forever.
Winter Homecoming cancelled for the second time – Lack of student interest and poor ticket sales kept this formal event from happening . . . twice. Maybe one day Winter Homecoming will come back -- but not anytime soon. “It’s a shame that StuGo put in all of that work only for [the dance] to get cancelled.” –Danielle Minter, senior
2009
Soulja Boy banned at homecoming – MHS made national news when the number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, “Crank That,” was banned at the homecoming dance. There was a frenzy of support for the song: Facebook groups were created and pleas were made at a school board meeting. An instrumental version was eventually played at the dance, and though it was no substitute for the Soulja Boy classic, eager students were willing to “Superman” all night. “Banning ‘Crank That’ was the greatest act of censorship this school has ever had.” –Kase Corstanje, sophomore
Hurricane Ike cuts power for Mason students – Mason students accustomed to the conveniences of power had a rough few days when the effects of Hurricane Ike hit the city. Charging phones at school, taking showers at the Community Center and overcrowding at IHOP were only some of the effects of one missed day and three delays caused by the powerless community. “I wish they would have given another day off, because half the people who came to school didn’t have power. I’d have rather had the whole week off than a couple days.” –Thomas Antenucci, freshman Vandalism at bus garage causes a day off – 2009 started with a bang when three students unplugged the buses at the bus garage and effectively ended the school day before it started. Students were happy; the administration -- not so much. “I was relieved; even the teachers were relieved. I don’t know why they got such a harsh punishment. Even the teachers were relieved!” –Samone Banks, sophomore
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FEATURE | PAGE 15
Awkward “Hello”s
As school size increases, so does the distance between old friends Jessica Kantor | Staff Writer Time passed since seeing childhood friends can sometimes limit the ability to reconnect, according to juniors Chad Singleton and Maggie Wilson, who have lived in Mason their entire lives. Wilson said that she often sees old friends in her classes. “When we switch trimesters and someone sits next to me and asks me if I remember them, that can be awkward since I haven’t talked to them in forever,” Wilson said. “Most of the time I remember people who I used to hang out with, but it’s hard to form strong friendships because we are always separated after trimesters change.” Singleton said he agrees that the trimesters create a difficulty in maintaining friendships. “Friendships don’t necessarily break up because of the school’s size,” Singleton said. “It is hard to stay caught up with everyone because you switch classes a lot. Everything is so fast paced; you could
have a class for twelve weeks and never see the kids in your class again before you graduate because our school is so big.” Although Wilson said that she has held on to some of her childhood friendships, school size was not the biggest influence on the decline of relationships. “The school size isn’t always what changes your friendships,” Wilson said. “As you grow up, you change, and your friendships will change, too. I still hang out with some of the people I was friends with when I was little, though. The oldest friend I have [is one] I knew when I was three years old. We live down the street from each other.” Singleton said that he has held on to a few of his childhood friends from Mason. “I am still pretty close friends with a couple of people I knew when I was little,” Singleton said. “I have close friends that I will always be friends with, no matter what or where we go. Most people either move away or move on, though.” Wilson said that the enormity of MHS to prepare students for relationships in college. “In college, you are dealing with a lot bigger classes than what we have now,” Wilson said. “It helps to know how to meet new people in a big school, and it helps you learn to be more outgoing.” Singleton said that our school does not necessarily help prepare students for future relationships. “I don’t think it helps you prepare,” Singleton said. “But it is good to have this situation because it is a realization of what college relationships may be like. The school size increases and decreases your opportunity to make friends at the same time. You have more people to
choose from to become friends with, but because there are so many people, it is hard to only get close to a few because of the population.” With such a large school, Wilson said there have been a few times when she has acknowledged people in the halls and gotten awkward responses. “I have said, ‘Hi,’ to people a couple of times and they ask, ‘Who are you?’” Wilson said. “It’s definitely
difficult because when you walk down the hallways, you see someone new that you’ve never seen in your life every day.” Singleton said, however, that being able to grow up with a set of people is one of the rewarding aspects of living in Mason. “It’s not really awkward to say, ‘Hi,’” Singleton said. “It’s actually kind of cool getting to see people again that you grew up with. I personally remember everyone I was friends with when I was little; I like seeing how people turn out. That’s one reason I have enjoyed living here my whole life.” Wilson said that more people would remember each other if we had a smaller school and that it would be easier to hold onto friendships. “I have met people on vacation and they gasp at how big our school is,” Wilson said. “They have about 100 people in their class and they know everyone and have good friendships, and everyone is really close to each other. Honestly, I would rather have a small group of really close friends than a huge group of friends that I barely know.” The hardest part of going to MHS, Singleton and Wilson said, comes at the end of each trimester or the end of the year. “At the end of a trimester, sometimes it is the end of a friendship, and that’s hard,” Singleton said. Wilson said that the end of the year often results in the fragmentation of friendships. “More people would remember each other if we had a smaller school,” Wilson said. “Everyone would be part of a tight-knit group.”
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Say cheese - years go by but the faces stay the same Deanna Allbrittin | Staff Writer Every year at Mason High School, a few unlucky students have a bad school picture forever etched on the glossy pages of the MHS yearbook. Senior, Lindsey Miller said
when I was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t think it was that horrible.’ But that sealed the deal.” Miller said she ended up getting retakes of that fall picture, but that somehow it did not end up in the yearbook. “I ended up with a good one,” Miller said. “I retook my picture, but I guess they never put in.” According to Miller, any future blinking episodes were avoided due to her mom’s diligence in filling out her order forms. “My mom now writes on [the form], ‘Make sure her eyes are open,’” Miller said. Junior Lauren Murray said that her mom is more reactive than proactive when it comes to her pictures. “My mother was not pleased at all [about my pictures],” Murray said. “I think she would have rather jumped off a cliff than buy my pictures.” According to Murray, the reason her mom gets upset about her pictures is because there is a reason that
Sean Steele: freshman and senior years (left to right)
Lindsey Miller: freshman and junior years (left to right)
that although she usually has good yearbook pictures, her sophomore picture was the opposite due to her being in the process of blinking. When a student hits enter on the keypads in the lunch room, it brings up both the student’s account information and his or her most recent school picture. Miller said that the picture on her account was what made her concerned about it. She said she did not think anything was wrong with the photograph until a cafeteria worker commented on the picture as she bought her lunch. “When I went in the lunch line the lunch lady said, ‘Oh, you know there’s retakes, right?’” Miller said. “That’s
Murray’s pictures have all been bad. For the past three years, she has purposefully made her picture “bad” to avoid the awkwardness of having an accidentally bad yearbook picture.
Lauren Murray: sophomore and junior years (left to right)
“The probability of having a terrible yearbook picture is high just because you don’t get to see it or edit it,” Murray said. “I’d rather just make a joke out of it than be forever embarrassed.” Murray said that many students she has spoken to cannot comprehend making your picture unorthodox, while others admire her for her spunk. “Some people have come up to me and said, ‘Thank God for you, man,’ just because of the sheer audacity of it,” Murray said. “I’m proud of it, but some people would [think negatively of] the experience.” According to Murray, unlike her mom, she does not specifically tell others that her pictures are purposefully done, but instead leaves the decision to those perusing the yearbooks. “I leave it up to people’s interpretation,” Murray said. “They can either think, ‘Wow, failure’, or, ‘How fun.’” Although Murray thinks her pictures are a good representation of herself, senior Sean Steele said he does not think similarly as he aged so much in each of his four years. “I don’t think [yearbook pictures] are very good representations of people,” Steele said. “People can change so much over a school year.” According to Steele, he felt many of his pictures were not good because only months later, he had changed so much from his photographed self. What he thought was a great hairstyle or attractive smile, was not in hindsight. “My sophomore year [picture was my least favorite] because I thought I looked good” Steele said. “It was one of those days where you wake up and think, it’s gonna be a good day, but looking back it was definitely not good.” The gawky stages, bad hair, and general teenage pubescence are what have helped Steele figure out who his real friends are. “For me, [the bad pictures] benefited me because I found out who my friends were,” Steele said. I’m glad I’ve gotten taller with more features. [My pictures] show change.”
photos contributed
the
Chronicle is online at
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THE CHRONICLE | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
FEATURE | PAGE 19
ideal school to feature fast food and no homework
photo art by Cady Meece
Cady Meece | Staff Writer Outside of the everyday, normal routines experienced at Mason High school, each student has a different image of the possibilities that could be experienced instead of the daily, rutted routines. The image of a perfect school is enhanced and altered in the imaginations of many students on a daily basis. Whether practical or peculiar, students have varying images of an amazing school that is personalized to all of their needs, wants and desires. Although most of these fantasies will never become a reality, there is always hope left that one day, their innovations will prevail in the school. If you could be in change of the school for a day, however, what would you change? “Upperclassmen only come into school three times a week and they come in late on the days that they do come in.” Kira Fluker Junior “Everyone would be allowed to carry a bag with their books and class materials in it without getting in trouble.” Emily Schulte Sophomore “School would start later in the day so that everyone could sleep in.” Jaja Smith Junior
“We should have only 30-minute classes. I would make this happen by starting school at eleven a.m., but still end at the same time.” Kelsey Hairston Sophomore
“We would have ice cream parties every primetime Wednesday for an hour so that we really get two hours off instead of one.” Lauren Lonsway Freshman
“We would have a food court instead of a cafeteria food. We would only have fast food restaurants like Wendy’s and McDonald’s.” Matt Benton Sophomore
“Why would there be school if I was king?” Aaron Vandemark Freshman
“We would have a district-wide Food Fight Day once a month. The students would not be responsible for anything that goes wrong and the administration has to clean everything up. Also, you wouldn’t have to do any of your work in class. It would get done when it gets done. ” Siera Barrett Sophomore
“Music would always be playing through the school and it would only play my playlist. I would take requests, but I would be the one that chose what was played.” Ben Tilley Freshman “You would be allowed to text whenever you wanted in school without being caught or punished.” Eric Arroyo Junior “Each student attending Mason would get the car of [his or her] choice so that we could maintain an appearance of superiority in Mason. We would steal money from [President] Obama’s stimulus package to get all of the cars.” Nathan Fisher Senior “School would start at nine a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. and we would still have primetime on Wednesdays” Samantha Antenucci Senior
“It should be illegal for teachers to give out homework. If teachers give homework, they will be publicly humiliated at lunch and have tomatoes thrown at them.” Najee Howard Sophomore “School would start at 9:15 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m.” Chelsea Mullen Freshman
“I think the homework load should be less. If teachers gave homework, they would be put in a chamber of terror.“ Tanya Rana Sophomore photos by Cady Meece
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MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE
Sports THE CHRONICLE | MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
The Press Box
Fans often want to have their say. The Press Box is a forum for Comet fans to voice their opinion on the latest games. Who do you think is the most demanding coach at Mason High School?
SPORTS | PAGE 21
Pay-to-play may become a reality for Comet athletes
“[Varsity Tennis Head Coach Linda] Kirtley, because she makes you run in the shape of an ‘M’ and it confuses me.” Vincent Hsu Sophomore
“[Varsity Football] Coach Rob Page, because he can do everything we can do in khakis and dress shoes, because he’s a better athlete.” Ethan Brown Junior
“The swimming coach [Coach Mark Sullivan], because he makes the swimmers come in so early in the morning for practice.” Megan Matula Senior
“[Varsity Basketball Coach Greg] Richards, because he has an intimidating whistle and stomp combination.” Mike Mintz Senior -Compiled by Trevor Maxim
Final decision yet to be made as athletic department gathers feedback Tony DeLotell | Staff Writer A pay-to-play program, which entails a $100 per sport participation fee is pending approval by the Mason School Board. If approved, the fee would be in addition to the traditionally mandatory spirit packs, according to Athletic Director Scott Stemple. Although Stemple said that a graduated scale for three-season athletes was considered, the fee will be constant regardless of the number of sports played. Stemple said he has been fielding complaints from parents about the participation fee since it was announced. He said many people are angry because they feel like since Mason has never had a participation fee, the school should not instigate one now, especially in this economy. According to Stemple, parents have told him that in the current economic climate, the school should be taking costs away from existing fees, not adding more. “[Mason] has increased teams, increased events and increased transportation, so our costs are going to go up,” Stemple said. “There is only one other school in the Greater Miami Conference that does not have participation fees right now other than us, and that’s Princeton. Every school
in our conference has had a participation fee for years.” Spirit pack fees are also a hot button issue, according to junior varsity baseball player Tyler Siekmann. He said that the
“There is only one other school in the Greater Miami Conference that does not have participation fees right now other than us, and that’s Princeton. Every school in our conference has had a participation fee for years.” Scott Stemple Athletic Director fees for paying for spirit packs are already too high, and adding another fee would be too much to ask. “I don’t think it’s fair that [athletes] have to pay,” Siekmann said. “You already have to pay enough money with packs and stuff like that. I think it’s just too much.”
photo by Woody Goldsmith
With the possible implementation of this $100 fee, coaches are worried about a drop in participation. Assistant football coach Jason Austerman doesn’t think that participation will be affected by the price. “I know that if people are unable to pay, the athletic department will work with you on getting those payments,” Austerman said. “We want to continue to increase participation in all of our athletic teams, and I don’t think a $100 fee is going to make too much of a difference.” Head Football Coach Dave Sedmak said he thinks the fee is a necessary change to Mason athletics. He said if one weighs the pros and cons of adding a cost, athletes would be better suited with the fee. “If they don’t [add a fee], sports have to be cut back, coaches have to be cut back and transportation has to be cut back,” Sedmak said. “[The athletic department] wouldn’t do this if they didn’t need to.” According to Sedmak, the fee is fair, but he said he understands that not all families will easily be able to pay the fee. “I guess you could say it’s fair, but I know it’s still going to be tough for some families to afford,” Sedmak said. “That’s just a fact of life right now.”
Team Tracker
photo by Tony DeLotell
The freshmen baseball players have had to adjust to the differences of high school baseball to playing with their club teams during the summer. Pitcher freshman Chris Grable said he expected a different kind of baseball when he signed up to play. “I thought school ball wasn’t going to be as hard,” Grable said. “The teams we are playing aren’t as good, but we could field a summer ball team with the kids on our team.”
While the season may be young, freshman softball players are already noticing some differences between high school softball and club softball. Freshman Sarah Browning said she notes that Coaches Stephanie Brittingham and Cori Castner have taken a more hands on approach than her summer ball coaches. “If you’re doing anything wrong, they help you,” Browning said. “They want us all to do well so they help us.”
photo by Alyssa Howard
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MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009 | THE CHRONICLE
Game Changers
Getting To Know...
SCOTT SPENCER
Varsity Softball Head Coach Brian Castner said he focuses on the concepts of commitment, effort and trust as the three core beliefs with which the team will compete in pursuit of further victories this season. Although the team has made two consecutive trips to the state final four, Castner said he still remains focused on the present. “We just want to get better as individual[s] and as a team each day, each different practice,” Castner said.
THE STONEWALL
Varsity Baseball Head Coach Ken Gray, who has been in the position since 1973, said that he brings his extensive experience and high expectations to the team. According to Gray, the technical knowledge that he has gained in mechanics and strategy allows him to get the most out of his players. “I have a pretty good idea of what we need to do to get a ball club ready to play and be competitive,” Gray said.
Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach Randy Hubbard said he finds the team’s strength this year in its enjoyment of the sport and a willingness to improve. Although lacrosse is still a relatively new sport in the area, Hubbard said the team isn’t discouraged. “Since we have a lot of schools that have [lacrosse], it’s starting to grow pretty fast,” Hubbard said. “We are trying to get it to the point where it will be sanctioned [by the Ohio High School Athletic Association].”
He’s an all-state athlete, an Adidas All-American and a big fan of Berry Blast Gatorade. Junior Scott Spencer is arguably the most acclaimed lacrosse player in the Mason program’s short history. But despite being recognized for his talents on the field, Spencer said he’s just your average kid beneath the pads and helmet…with especially good looks.
What is your most embarrassing moment? In my first varsity game ever, I ran out onto the field and pounded fists with a kid, and my hand broke. I didn’t tell anyone, but after the game I got made fun of for quite some time. What does the lacrosse team do together off of the field? We like to go to restaurants and drink vanilla and cherry coke, but only if they mix the vanilla or cherry flavor in at the restaurant. Sometimes we just sit outside and eat steak fries and sip cold beverages.
Sports Talk What do you expect from the Reds this season? “The Reds really need a winning record this year. I expect Jay Bruce to be a monster this year. He’s such a beast.” -Junior Mapati, Junior
What’s it like playing with your younger brother, Joe? I played football with Joe, too, but I was injured for a lot of the year, so this is kind of new. Joe’s a good kid, though, so we get along pretty well. Since I’m a goalie, I don’t spend a lot of time doing drills with him anyway.
“I was born on the exact day and time that the Reds won the World Series in 1990. I’ve gone through my entire childhood watching them lose, but now I’m an adult and I expect victory.” -Corin Newman, Senior
You are acclaimed as one of the State’s most talented high school goalies. What sets you apart from your fellow goalies? My athleticism is probably my biggest asset as a goalie. I’m really focused, too. I kind of get in the zone before games. Plus, I’m very handsome.
“They should have a good bullpen this year. They have a good, young pitching staff and a talented new catcher in Ramon Hernandez. They should break even this year and make the playoffs next year.” -Bhavik Modi, Junior “I expect the Reds to finish around .500 this year. We got rid of two of our best athletes, so I don’t expect them to make the playoff. Then again, I never expect anything out of them.” -Nick Barot, Senior -Compiled by Scott Hutchinson
Goalie can be a scary position to play. What do you fear? I fear nothing. I feel no pain. You mentioned that you “get in the zone” before games. Do you have a pregame routine? I like to separate myself from my teammates and go through my techniques in my head. I usually listen to some nice music and sip on a Berry Blast Gatorade, as well. Off the field, what is the one thing that people would be surprised to know about you? I’m in band, and I can play the piano, too. -As told to Scott Hutchinson
Comet Culture Grid Name
Celebrity I would want to be
I should avoid...
My party song
____ grinds my gears
My superstition
Jordan Deeds Varsity Baseball Senior
Michael Jordan
Chip Dobson
“Wanna Be a Baller” -Lil’ Troy
When people call me a ginger
I throw salt over my shoulder when I spill it.
Tim Huesing Varsity Boys’ Track Senior
Whoever is Natalie Portman’s boyfriend
Steeler fans
“Power of Love” -Huey Lewis
When people try to act cool when they aren’t
I wear high socks when I run for good luck.
Marie Garcia Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse Sophomore
Sporty Spice
Going to jail
“Shake It” -Metro Station
Food chomping
My boyfriend’s bird
Stat of the Month
3 5
Saves by varsity lacrosse goalie junior Scott Spencer
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